NEW YORK � Jan. 3, 2007 � "NBC Sunday Night Football" wrapped up its inaugural season averaging 17.5 million viewers, 1.2 million viewers better than ABC Monday Night Football in 2005 and the best viewership number for the network primetime NFL package in six years (18.5 million on ABC in 2000), according to Nielsen Media Research.

"The NFL has again proven itself to be one of the most valuable properties in television," said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. "Every network this season has seen ratings increases for its NFL package� an incredible accomplishment� almost unheard of in this time of audience fragmentation. There were industry skeptics who didn't believe we could successfully shift viewer interest from Monday night to Sunday night. But they were both surprised, and delighted, when they saw that 'NBC Sunday Night Football' created a new destination to reach viewers, especially men, and changed what was 36 years of traditional viewing habits on Sunday and Monday nights."

Ebersol added: "NBC Sunday Night Football also showed terrific gains in the key adults 18-49 demographic, growing six percent versus last year's Monday Night Football average and also growing six percent among Men 18-49. It's been a tremendous success."

NBC HIGHEST RATED AND MOST WATCHED NFL BROADCASTER

NBC finished its first-ever "Sunday Night Football" season averaging an 11.0 household rating and 18 share, up 2 percent from ABC MNF last season (10.8/18). "Sunday Night Football" drew 14 percent more viewers than CBS through 12/24 (17.5 million vs. 15.4 million), five percent more than Fox through 12/24 (16.7 million) and 42 percent higher than ESPN (12.3 million). "SNF" rated 11 percent higher than CBS's NFL average this season through 12/24 (9.9), three percent higher than Fox (10.7) and 34 percent higher than ESPN's U.S. HH rating (8.2).

NFL IS THE WINNER: EVERY NETWORK UP OVER 2005

Based on network averages through 12/24, every NFL broadcaster will finish the season ahead of 2005:

"NBC SNF" averaged a 6.8 in A18-49, up 119 percent from the network's Sunday night average in the same time period a year ago (3.1 for 8:30-11 pm) and averaged 73 percent more viewers in the time period (17.5 million vs. 10.1 million).